A lettuce garden is an ideal use of a small garden space. Lettuces are generally compact plants that don't need a lot of area to grow. Spring is the best time for planting seeds. In just a few weeks, you'll be eating your own homegrown salads.
Like many other greens, lettuce grows quickly and produces several crops in a single season. All you need is a sunny location with well-drained soil. You can plant the seeds in both wide rows or in single rows. Here's how to plant in single rows:
- Mark your rows with string tied between two stakes.
- Make a shallow trench with the handle of a trowel.
- Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and space them an inch apart.
- When seedlings appear, space plants 10 to 12 inches apart.
Plant a variety of lettuces for an interesting mix of texture, flavor and color. Also, different varieties such as head, leaf lettuce and black- seeded Simpson have different maturity rates; planting more than one type can allow you to have a steady harvest throughout the season.
Alfalfa sprouts are a great addition to salads and sandwiches and can be grown indoors.
- Cut cheesecloth large enough to drape an inch over the edge of a quart jar.
- Put a tablespoon of alfalfa seeds into the jar and cover with water.
- Secure the cheesecloth over the jar with a rubber band and soak seeds overnight.
- The next day, drain the water out through the cheesecloth.
- Invert the jar and keep in a dark place for four days. Rinse seeds with cool water three times each day. After each rinsing, prop the jar so that the seeds are distributed along its side, giving them good drainage and aeration.
- On the fourth day, place the jar in direct sun.
- As soon as the sprouts turn green, they're ready to eat.
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